Man charged after attempted abductions

A Union City man was charged with 12 crimes — 10 of them felonies — after he was accused of trying to accost and abduct three children at McDonald’s Friday night in Coldwater.

Comment

By Don ReidSpecial to the Journal

Sturgis Journal - Sturgis, MI

By Don ReidSpecial to the Journal

Posted Jan. 24, 2013 at 8:42 PM
Updated Jan 24, 2013 at 8:45 PM

By Don ReidSpecial to the Journal

Posted Jan. 24, 2013 at 8:42 PM
Updated Jan 24, 2013 at 8:45 PM

Coldwater

A Union City man was charged with 12 crimes — 10 of them felonies — after he was accused of trying to accost and abduct three children at McDonald’s Friday night in Coldwater.

Jeffrey Renshaw, 35, was at the entrance of the restaurant when he tried to grab a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old, authorities said. A man tackled him and the mother got the children away.

Renshaw then grabbed a 5-year-old girl, but a relative wrested her away from Renshaw. During that time, other patrons with children fled to the restroom. Renshaw tried to break down the door, according to police reports. As he fled the building, he threw a rock through a window and ran to the north.

Coldwater police had three patrol cars at the scene and Michigan State Police provided backup.

Officers later found Renshaw trying to break into a locked door at Jefferson Elementary School on Vans Avenue.

Renshaw was naked when officers found him. He fought off four officers and had to be subdued with a stun gun. Identification was in his clothing nearby.

Officers said they found a pistol and a rifle in Renshaw’s 1991 Chevrolet Lumina, which was parked at the lot of Southern Michigan Bank & Trust, a block east of McDonald’s.

He was also in possession of the drug Methlyn, police said.

Renshaw faces three charges of attempted abduction, four counts of resisting arrest, drug possession count and two counts of possession of a firearm.

Bond was set at $200,000 and a Feb. 1 preliminary examination was scheduled.